Home Blog Page 48

Saraya Confirms Her Wrestling Career Isn’t Over

Michael Reichlin
-
0

Earlier this week, Saraya announced her departure from All Elite Wrestling (AEW), marking the end of her two-and-a-half-year tenure with the company. The run culminated with Saraya winning the AEW Women’s World Championship at AEW All In 2023 in front of her hometown crowd at Wembley Stadium.

Reflecting on her exit during an interview on Busted Open Radio, Saraya shared insights into her decision to leave AEW and her overall experience.

“When I came into AEW, the thing that I wanted to do was just help build stuff. I didn’t want to be the top dog or the face or anything—that’s not what I wanted,” she explained. “What I wanted to do was put girls over, if that helped them in any way. That’s all I wanted to do. And I feel like I was coming to the end of that. There wasn’t very much left I could do. I don’t think there was a place for me anymore in there.”

Saraya also expressed gratitude for AEW owner Tony Khan’s support throughout her time with the company.

“Tony was so amazing with it. It was mutual. He was really great; he’s been so supportive since I asked for time off in November. I’ve been gone for a minute, and I was like, well, there’s really no place for me anymore, so we came to that decision. I’m happy about it. He wished me luck with everything, and the door’s always open.”

Despite stepping away from AEW, Saraya emphasized that she cherished her time working with talented women such as Toni Storm, Ruby Soho, and Harley Cameron:

“I’m really happy that I got the stories that I got because I got to hang with wonderful women… Even if not everyone was happy with the way storylines were or how I was portrayed, I had a great time behind the scenes”.

She also acknowledged occasional frustrations with certain creative directions but maintained that she enjoyed herself overall: “Even sometimes maybe I was like, oh, I wish we could be doing XYZ, but I was having a great time behind the scenes”.

Looking ahead, Saraya plans to focus on several outside projects, including her new podcast Rulebreakers, her memoir Hell in Boots, and an upcoming acting role. While she is stepping away from wrestling for now, she assured fans that this is not the end of her career:

“This isn’t the end of my wrestling career… Maybe I’ll do something later on down the line that everyone will be proud of and want to love”

‘I Was Shocked’: Hulk Hogan Reacts to John Cena’s Heel Turn

Michael Reichlin
-
0
‘I Was Shocked’: Hulk Hogan Reacts to John Cena’s Heel Turn

Hulk Hogan is weighing in on the most buzzed-about topic in WWE: John Cena’s heel turn. Cena’s turn was one of the shocking moments in wrestling history, right up there with Hogan being revealed as Kevin Nash and Scott Hall’s “third man” in the formation of the New World Order back in 1996.

Speaking with Scott Johnson on Going Ringside and News4JAX, Hogan shared his genuine surprise at Cena’s new direction and offered a personal comparison to his own notorious transformation into “Hollywood Hogan” during the NWO era.

“John Cena is a great wrestler… he’s my favorite wrestler without a doubt,” Hogan said. “I was shocked. I never thought John would turn into a bad guy.”

While Hogan embraced the shift as part of wrestling’s ever-evolving storytelling, he pointed out a key difference in crowd reaction.

“The fans are booing him out of the building,” Hogan observed. “The difference is, when I turned into a bad guy, the fans were cheering me more than ever. So it was a little crazy.”

WWE fans have long speculated whether Cena—known for his squeaky-clean image and massive youth following—would ever take a darker turn. The recent shift has sparked both shock and admiration from fans and insiders alike.

Hogan’s comments also provide context for how heel turns function differently across eras. In the ’90s, Hogan’s villain arc revitalized his career and helped usher in WWE’s Attitude Era. Whether Cena’s pivot will leave a similar legacy remains to be seen.

“It’s a great storyline,” Hogan said. “I like to see where this goes and how long he’s going to run with it.”

Kevin Knight is ‘All Elite’ After AEW Collision

Bishal Roy
-
0
Kevin Knight is ‘All Elite’ After AEW Collision

AEW has made a new addition to their roster which is already stacked with a plethora of talents. AEW President Tony Khan has announced that former NJPW star Kevin Knight is “All Elite” on Saturday.

Knight was involved in the opening match against ‘Switchblade’ Jay White on the latest edition of AEW Collision. They had a back and forth battle. But ultimately Jay White hit Knight with the Bladrunner to win the bout. Following the match, AEW commentator Tony Schiavone revealed that “Kevin Knight is All Elite.” White also got on the mic after his victory and said fans would be seeing more of Knight.

Shortly afterwards, Tony Khan took to social media and announced Knight’s signing.

PWInsider has also reported that Knight participated in an invited WWE tryout at the Performance Center “several weeks ago”, and the company was keen to sign him. However, “in the end”, Knight decided to join AEW.

In 2020, Knight joined New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s LA Dojo as a Young Lion and trained under Katsuyori Shibata. He made his NJPW debut on December 12, 2020, at the Super J-Cup, teaming with Ren Narita against Bullet Club’s Hikuleo and KENTA.

Kevin Knight and KUSHIDA, known as the Intergalactic Jet Setters, captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship twice, first on April 27, 2023, and again on October 14, 2024.

Knight had originally made his AEW debut in May 2022, teaming with The DKC. However, they lost the match to The Factory’s Aaron Solo and Nick Comoroto. Following the match The Factory attempted to attack the duo. However, they were saved by their LA Dojo stablemates.

It is be seen what is next for Kevin Knight.

Joe Weller Begins Wrestling Training and His Own ‘Road To WrestleMania’

Bishal Roy
-
0
Joe Weller Begins Wrestling Training and His Own ‘Road To WrestleMania’

Popular British YouTuber Joe Weller has stepped inside the squared circle to start his pro wrestling journey and even said that he is on his ‘Road to WrestleMania.’

Recently, WWE has been collaborating with social media influencers, including YouTubers and streamers and catering to larger audience across the globe. Influencers such as former WWE US Champion Logan Paul, KSI, and IShowSpeed have been heavily involved with the company and Joe Weller is seemingly next in line.

Weller boasts more than five million subscribers on YouTube and garnered more attention after dropping WWE references. After Weller taking a suplex from Logan Paul during the recent Sidemen Charity Match, the Brit has been eager to step inside the ring.

Joe Weller recently dropped a photo on social media, in which he was in a wrestling ring with British independent wrestlers Danny Black and Joe Lando. He then teased that he is on the road to WrestleMania as he captioned his photo:

“The road to Wrestlemania begins… My first wrestling class”

Joe Weller has been clear about performing for WWE but he said that he would want to do things the ‘respectable way’ by working his way up through the indies before entering the world of WWE. During an appearance on Logan Paul’s ‘Impaulsive‘ podcast, Weller said:

“I would love to. I genuinely would love to. So, I had the thought of doing the indie circuit and doing it like the respectable way, and documenting that and then hopefully WWE are like, ‘F***ing hell, you’re killing it on the indie scene, let’s get you in’. But yeah, I’d honestly love to. I think I’d be a good heel.”

Goldberg Begins Training For His Wrestling Retirement Match

Andrew Ravens
-
0
Goldberg Begins Training For His Wrestling Retirement Match

Goldberg is preparing for his final match in 2025, prioritizing health and recovery in the process. He previously stated on ESPN’s College GameDay last year that his retirement match would take place in WWE.

Goldberg revealed on Instagram that he has begun training for his retirement match, and his team includes Kevin Von Erich and Tyrone Spong.  The caption says, “And the grind begins…..assembling my inring crew? @goldberg21_99 @ramvonerich @coachjimmyhouse @thekevinvonerich @black_diamond_martial_arts @tyrone_spong.”

The WWE Hall of Famer underwent stem cell treatment, a procedure he prepared for by making significant lifestyle changes. On his CarCast podcast, Goldberg previously revealed that he had to eliminate bad habits, such as tobacco use and poor dietary choices.

Goldberg had a confrontation with World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER at Bad Blood this past October. His last match took place in 2022 at the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event, where he faced Roman Reigns.

In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Goldberg discussed his future plans, emphasizing that he has many potential opponents for his retirement match. He mentioned Bron Breakker and GUNTHER as possibilities, highlighting that a match against GUNTHER would symbolize a passing of the torch to a new generation of wrestlers. Goldberg seemed enthusiastic about the prospect, suggesting it would be a meaningful conclusion to his career.

Dave Meltzer had previously reported that GUNTHER was the intended opponent for Goldberg’s final match, which was likely to occur after GUNTHER lost his World Heavyweight Championship. However, it’s uncertain whether these original plans are still in effect. 

The Rock Refutes Claim He Sabotaged CM Punk’s WrestleMania Dream

Thomas Lowson
-
0
The Rock Refutes Claim He Sabotaged CM Punk’s WrestleMania Dream

CM Punk will finally headline a WrestleMania this April, but many fans believe Punk should have received the honor years ago. In 2013, fans hoped that Punk would headline WrestleMania 29, but that instead went to John Cena and the Rock who had a rematch of their ‘once in a lifetime’ bout from the previous year.

Recently, a video was shared that The Rock hates Punk and won’t let him headline WrestleMania under any circumstance. This video caught the attention of the Final Boss, who refuted the idea that he has an issuye with the Best in the World.

“First of all, Punk and I have become good buddies over the years. We’re solid. Secondly, whatever match making scenario is best for true long term (not short term) business success- that will be our Mania main event. Lastly, you’re clown.”

Despite the claim that The Rock hates Punk, evidence points to the contrary. Shortly after Punk walked out of WWE, The Rock called the Best in the World following an episode of Raw. This demonstrated that the pair were at least on speaking terms and Punk was okay with the man who supposedly hated him, having his phone number.

Whatever issues Punk and Rock may or may not have had, they won’t keep the Best in the World from headlining WrestleMania 41: Saturday. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Punk as he prepares to do battle with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins inside Allegiant Stadium on April 19.

CM Punk Wishes WWE Return Came a Decade Earlier

ECW Alum Defend Promotion After Comparison To Moxley Spike Spot

Thomas Lowson
-
0
ECW Alum Defend Promotion After Comparison To Moxley Spike Spot

During the recent Cope Vs. Jon Moxley rematch, the AEW World Champion was slammed onto Spike, Cope’s signature spiked board. The spot, which saw the spikes stuck in Moxley’s back, has sparked a debate about whether AEW went too far or if all’s fair in the name of wrestling action.

On social media, Rob Van Dam shared his opposition to the spot, which some have found questionable given his ECW ties. When a fan said it was “laughable” for RVD to be opposed to the violent AEW moment, Van Dam gave a lengthy response. The WWE Hall of Famer pointed out that he didn’t compete in Barbed Wire matches in ECW, nor did he ever blade. He added that fans are “stupid” if they believe he’s being hypocritcal about the AEW spot.

Taz, another veteran of ECW, also defended the promotion from the attitude that it was merely about violence. The former ECW World Champion argued that being ‘hardcore’ was a mindset in ECW and not just about being as violent as possible.

Outside of its violent in-ring action, ECW helped produce exciting cruiserweights and luchadors, and was able to tell compelling storylines without the need for blading. Several talents involved would enjoy succesful careers both in and outside ECW’s violent homestead including RVD, The Dudley Boyz, and more.

ECW may be a thing of the past, but the memories and attitudes of the promotion continue to live on today. While some may feel AEW imitated ECW with this particular spot, there was far more to the promotion than blood and guts as far as RVD and Taz are concerned.

CM Punk Takes Credit For The Shield’s Success: I Brought Them Into This

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0
CM Punk Takes Credit For The Shield’s Success: I Brought Them Into This

CM Punk has taken credit for the idea of The Shield.

The trio of Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose first made their mark on WWE TV helping CM Punk during his historic 434-days-long WWE Championship reign. More than a decade after his first encounter with them, the Straight Edge Star has found himself in the crosshairs of two-thirds of the group again, heading into WrestleMania 41.

The former WWE Champion recently had an interview with Rich Eisen to promote his appearance on ESPN+ series Stephanie’s Places. He talked about things such as returning to the company, their ongoing European tour and more.

When the topic of his feud with Reigns and Rollins was brought up, CM Punk claimed that he conceptualized the group because he knew that he would need guys to work with in the future:

“I was always looking towards the future. Yeah, there’s the now, there’s me, and there’s Cena. But outside of that, I would look at the landscape and be like, ‘What do we need to do to get money-talent in the position that I’m in now? How do I bring guys up? How do we elevate Superstars?’”

They Were Picked For A Reason: CM Punk

CM Punk was part of an explosive contract signing segment on this week’s episode of SmackDown with both Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, where they all made their WrestleMania 41 triple threat match official. The notable thing about this segment was Paul Heyman’s declaration that the bout will main event the show of shows, a goal Punk never achieved in his first run with the company.

Now that his dream is finally set to become a reality, the former AEW star is not letting anyone else take credit for it. Punk was not shy claiming that he was the one who brought Rollins and Reigns to this level:

“So the idea with The Shield was that simple. I need guys to work with, for good or for bad, whether I like them, whether I hate them, whether I’m going to wind up having personal problems with them. I need talented individuals to work with, or I have nobody to work with in the future.

Lo and behold, who am I working with at WrestleMania? So, life’s pretty funny the way things kind of work out. I just don’t want those two guys to forget that they were picked for a reason. I brought them into this and at WrestleMania. I get the chance to take them out.”

Eva Marie Tells All On Planned SmackDown Women’s Title Win

Thomas Lowson
-
0
Eva Marie Tells All On Planned SmackDown Women’s Title Win

Eva Marie never held gold during her tenure with WWE, but that nearly wasn’t the case. Speaking to Ring The Belle, Marie was asked about a long-standing rumor that she was set to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

“I had heard that too. I had heard that I was actually going to get the title at SummerSlam [2016]… so many things were going on.”

Not only did Marie not win the gold at SummerSlam but she was cut from the event and replaced by the returning Nikki Bella. Marie was cut from the show for violating WWE’s Wellness Policy. At the time, she claimed that she’d tested positive for Adderall, a medication she had a prescription for, but submitted the paperwork after a WWE deadline.

“They totally knew, for sure, that everything was documented from my doctor. I thought it was a gimmick [by WWE.] That moment devastated me.”

Instead of SummerSlam, the first SmackDown Women’s Champion was crowned at the following month’s Backlash Premium Live Event. In a six-woman match that featured Natalya, Alexa Bliss, Naomi, Carmella, and Nikki Bella, it was Becky Lynch who etched her name in the history books as the inaugural champion.

Marie would part ways with WWE in 2017 and returned to the promo three years later. While Eva never held the SmackDown Women’s Championship, there’s no shortage of fans who recall her impact in the ring and as part of WWE Total Divas on E!

Eva Marie On How Her WWE Return Came Together

Kane Reveals WWE Moment That Made Him Feel Like A Superstar For First Time

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0
Kane Reveals WWE Moment That Made Him Feel Like A Superstar For First Time

Kane has revealed the moment when he first felt like he had made it in wrestling.

The former World Champion recently had an interview with Outkick. He discussed things such as a potential charity wrestling match with Tim Walz, how he got signed to WWE, and more.

During the interview, Kane was asked when he first realized that the Big Red Monster gimmick was the opportunity that he had been looking for in wrestling. The 57-year-old claimed that he knew it was going to be big on the night of his debut:

“It was my debut at St Louis at the In Your House Bad Blood pay-per-view when I came out, ripped the cell door off during Shawn Michaels and Undertaker match. That was the first time that I actually really felt like a superstar.

I’ll never forget just walking out, the music is playing but for a moment, there was…that was it. I mean just the entire arena was in shock. You could hear a pin drop. 15,000 people weren’t making a sound until they kind of intuitively, I guess, realized what was going on.”

They Had To Figure It Out Themself: Kane

The WWE Hall of Famer explained that the reaction was made possible due to the storyline everyone else had built for months before the PPV, leading to his unforgettable debut:

“We always think about Vince doing that ‘That’s gotta be Kane’ thing. We have to understand that was only going out to the audience watching on pay-per-view.

That wasn’t going out to the people there at the event. So again, they had to figure it out themselves, and then within 30 seconds, they had. They were all thinking themselves, ‘That’s gotta be Kane.'”

Apart from this, Kane also talked about his early gimmicks before he became the Undertaker’s brother. He told the story of Vince McMahon pitching him the Isaac Yankem character which you can check out here.

WWE PLE In India Is The Goal, Says Nick Khan

Thomas Lowson
-
0
WWE PLE In India Is The Goal, Says Nick Khan

WWE could be hosting a Premium Live Event in India within a matter of years, according to WWE President Nick Khan. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Khan shared that an event could come to the sub-continent within the next two years.

“We’re pencilling out 2026 and 2027 now. In one of our first meetings with Netflix after the deal was signed, without asking, Netflix handed us a list of their priority countries. At the top of that list was India.”

WWE is the second most popular sport in India, only behind Cricket, Khan revealed. The WWE President added that WWE storrytelling fits right at home with the viewing habits of the Indian consumer.

“You’ll notice a lot of dramas and stories with deep narratives. That’s exactly what we believe WWE is.”

WWE In India

WWE has hosted several live events in India, the first of being in February 1996 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. In 2023, WWE hosted its biggest India-based event, the Superstar Spectacle which show saw a rare in-ring appearance by John Cena. The WWE icon teamed with Seth Rollins to defeat Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci.

Now, India appears poised to host a Premium Live Event in huge news to the countless fans in the area. Stay tuned to SEScoops for thelatest on WWE’s international events as they prepare for a trip to India.

How A Damaged Arena Nearly Ended WWE’s India Supershow

Drew McIntyre Got ‘Real Glass’ in His Eye in SmackDown Attack

Thomas Lowson
-
0
Drew McIntyre Got ‘Real Glass’ in His Eye in SmackDown Attack

On the March 28, edition of WWE SmackDown, Damian Priest attacked Drew McIntyre in the parking lot. The assault culminated with Priest hitting South of Heaven on McIntyre, sending him through a car window, much to the delight of CM Punk who appeared shortly after.

Taking to X after the attack, McIntyre proved that his issues with Punk aren’t over despite their feud wrapping up in 2024. On the platform, McIntyre made reference to getting “real glass” in his eye thanks to Priest’s assault in the parking area.

McIntyre’s comments allude to the comment about real glass made by Jack Perry at All In: London 2023. This comment, which itself referenced Punk being opposed to the use of real glass on AEW Collision, resulted in Punk and Perry fighting backstage in front of Tony Khan. The AEW President would suspend both men and Punk would be fired from AEW in September 2023.

Punk and McIntyre have moved on to other programs but there’s clear bad blood between the still. Whether either man ‘cries a river’ or not over McIntyre’s comment, it may be just a matter of time before these two are back in the same ring.

‘I Was Mortified’: Kane Recalls Vince McMahon Pitching The Isaac Yankem Gimmick

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0
‘I Was Mortified’: Kane Recalls Vince McMahon Pitching The Isaac Yankem Gimmick

Kane has recalled his very first meeting with Vince McMahon.

The Mayor of Knox County recently had an interview with Outkick. He talked about things such as his early days in wrestling, his favorite version of Kane, wrestling with and without a mask and more.

During the interview, the former World Champion was also asked about the Isaac Yankem gimmick he was given before he became the brother of The Undertaker. Kane noted that Vince McMahon pitched it to him during their very first meeting:

“Yeah, I’ll never forget my first meeting with Vince McMahon and he brought up the Isaac Yankem character as only he could. He asked if I had ever been afraid to go to the dentist. I was like ‘No I haven’t been.’ He’s like ‘Well I have this idea for a character, a wrestling dentist – Isaac Yankem.’ He’s like ‘I yank em, get it?’

Then he starts doing the Vince laugh. I was mortified actually because here I am sitting across from Vince McMahon who’s the most powerful person in the wrestling industry and all I could think was ‘Wait you flew me all the way up from Knoxville Tennessee to New York to tell me that you want me to be a wrestling dentist?'”

I Couldn’t Sink My Teeth Into It: Kane

Though according to Kane, the management was not trying to sabotage his career with the gimmick. He explained that it was on par with the other characters of the era and they actually thought that it could be successful:

“But that’s where the industry and WWE specifically was at that time. it was pretty campy. You see some of the characters from that period. It was just cartoonish and it was really focusing on going for kids actually. The product itself was very sanitized.

You look at what happened a few years later in the Attitude Era and the pendulum completely swung the other way. So for that particular period of time, it wasn’t like they were thinking ‘Oh we’re gonna saddle Glenn with this horrible gimmick.’ They actually thought it could be successful. But unfortunately I couldn’t sink my teeth into it.”

Matt Hardy Shocked By Recent TNA Changes

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0
Matt Hardy Shocked By Recent TNA Changes

Matt Hardy was as surprised by the recent TNA changes as the fans.

The Anthem management recently shook things up behind the scenes in the wrestling promotion. There were a number of key executives fired by the company, such as Chief Revenue Officer Rob Kligman and Digital Department head Michael Shewchenko. For the fans, the most shocking departure was that of longtime performer and producer Gail Kim.

The Broken One talked about the recent changes in the latest episode of his podcast. Talking about Kim, Hardy noted that her departure came as a huge shock to him too:

“The Gail Kim departure was definitely shocking, very unexpected. I don’t think you could have asked anyone if that was on their list of somebody that would be released — I don’t think anybody thought that would have been a possibility. So yeah, huge huge shock and even reading that news, it was hard to believe that it actually went down.”

Matt Hardy mentioned that Gail Kim was universally loved in the promotion, and the female performers felt blessed to have her on the roster. According to Hardy, Kim always fought hard for the women’s division. Though, he noted that he is unaware of the reason behind this move as it’s above his pay grade.

She Is Very Giving: Matt Hardy

When asked what made the former Knockouts Champion so special, the current TNA tag team champion noted how Gail Kim was one of the leaders of the women’s revolution. She was leading the Knockouts division in showing that women can have serious matches similar to men, at a time when WWE was still stuck in the divas era:

“I think she was a real standout and a real trailblazer, groundbreaker when it came to the style that women started working. Now that she has moved past that and she’s hurt and she’s beat up. She obviously put her body through a lot of wear and tear. I think she’s got a real good mindset and knowing also how to optimize your match. Make a match great but optimize it.

I think the girls feel very comfortable with her. They’re very trusting of her just because she has been around for so long and she has such a great track record not only of in-ring performances and breaking barriers in the women’s division, Knockouts division whatever division you call it but she is someone that they feel like has their best interest in mind. She’s very giving.

She’s very selfless in many ways, especially if she’s putting stuff together, she doesn’t really play favorites. She wants everyone to go out there and steal the show. She wants all of the women to stand out and look great. I think she’s truly there for the greater good of wherever she’s working.”

Randy Orton Vows to Punt Kevin Owens’ Head Over WrestleMania 41 Roof

Thomas Lowson
-
0
Randy Orton Vows to Punt Kevin Owens’ Head Over WrestleMania 41 Roof

On the March 28, edition of WWE SmackDown, Kevin Owens interfered in Randy Orton’s match with Drew McIntyre, costing the Legend Killer the victory. In a WWE Digital Exclusive, an irate Orton looked back on the piledriver delivered from Owens in 2024 that cost him months of action.

“I was out four freaking months because Kevin Owens dropped on me, at my head. Four months, no matches, four months!”

Orton returned at WWE Elimination Chamber: Toronto where he attempted to hit a punt kick on Kevin Owens. While the Prizefighter avoided the move in his home country, Orton vowed that things will be different in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.

“WrestleMania, Piledriver versus Punt Kick. But he is just only going to nip, nip, nip, nip away at me until I kick him so hard come the day on WrestleMania, grandest stage of all. I am gonna send his head clear over the freaking roof.”

Orton ended by confirming that his match with Owens will take place at WrestleMania 41: Saturday, due to take place on April 19. Stay tuned to see whether Orton can vanquish Owens at WrestleMania and deliver a punt kick that’ll leave the fans in danger of being in the splash zone.

Randy Orton Sets Sight On Cody Rhodes & 15th WWE World Title Win

WWE Set to Break Six-Year Streak at WrestleMania 41

Thomas Lowson
-
0
WWE Set to Break Six-Year Streak at WrestleMania 41

On the March 28, edition of WWE SmackDown, it was announced that CM Punk Vs. Roman Reigns Vs. Seth Rollins will headline Night One of WrestleMania 41. This stacked match will be Punk’s first time headlining the Showcase of the Immortals, the third for Rollins and the tenth for the OTC.

While this match is certainly fitting of the main event spot, it will likely mark the end of a major streak related to WrestleMania. With this match headlining Night One, and John Cena Vs. Cody Rhodes expected to headline Night Two, this year’s WrestleMania will mark the first time since 2018 that a Royal Rumble winner hasn’t closed out the show.

Jey Uso won the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match and will challenge World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER this April. As for Charlotte Flair, the winner of the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble match, she will challenge Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton. While neither match has been assigned a night yet, it is apparent that neither will close out Night Two over Cena Vs. Rhodes.

The last time neither Royal Rumble winner headlined the show was in 2018 when Asuka and Shinsuke Nakamura won the Rumble matches. Neither headlined at WrestleMania 34 and neither won gold in their title matches against Charlotte and AJ Styles.

Even if Jey and Charlotte don’t headline the show of shows, both intend on leaving Las Vegas with championship gold. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on WrestleMania 41 and this year’s stacked card.

WrestleMania 41 is More than a World Title Match for Jey Uso – It’s Redemption

Update On WWE Hall of Fame Immortal Moments, Origins of the Idea

Thomas Lowson
-
0
Update On WWE Hall of Fame Immortal Moments, Origins of the Idea

For the first time in history, an ‘Immortal Moment’ will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as Bret Hart and Steve Austin’s war at WrestleMania 13 will be celebrated on April 18. The iconic I-Quit match helped cement Austin as a top star in the making while showcasing Hart’s trademark excellence both in and out of the ring.

This idea isn’t a WWE original but one the promotion has borrowed from their TKO partners at UFC. In the Daily Update, Dave Meltzer said that fans should “credit this one to Art Evans” who currently oversees the UFC Hall of Fame selection process.

Evans was tasked with making the UFC Hall of Fame seem more credible following the controversial induction of Stephan Bonnar. A two-time drug cheat who lost the majority of his significant matches, Bonnar’s induction remains a point of contention. To build back good-will, Evans introduced inducting specific fights and now WWE is following suit.

Triple H, Michelle McCool, Lex Luger, and The Natural Disasters have been confirmed for this year’s Hall of Fame and now fans will also get to hear from Austin and the Rattlesnake. It remains to be seen what other matches and moments will be inducted in the years to come as WWE has a massive history of iconic points in time worthy of an induction.

Lex Luger Marries Ahead of WWE Hall of Fame Induction

Aleister Black’s WWE Return Date Potentially Revealed

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0
Aleister Black’s WWE Return Date Potentially Revealed

Fans believe they have figured out the WWE return date for Aleister Black.

The company has been airing mystery vignettes for two different stars on SmackDown over the past few weeks. Rey Fenix was revealed to be behind one set of the mystery videos on this week’s episode of the show. The high-flying star is now set to make his debut for the promotion next week.

The company has continued to withhold information about the other set of the vignettes believed to be indicating towards the WWE return of the former NXT Champion. Though after this week, some believe they have figured out the date for Black’s return as well.

Aleister Black’s WWE Return Date Revealed?

All the previous video packages had featured the number 4 with some other signs that were hard to decipher. The video shown on this week’s episode of the Blue Branded show, however, also featured the Roman numerals for number 25 for a very brief moment.

Putting both the numbers together, fans believe that this is an indication that the former AEW star will be making his return to the company during the April 25 episode of SmackDown.

That will be the first episode of the show following WrestleMania 41 so it would make sense for the company to create buzz for it with the big return.

Whether the former champion’s return is officially announced beforehand or if the company keeps it a secret untill then will be something we have to see.

‘Crushed It’ – Triple H Praises Mark Nash After WWE Ring Announcer Debut

Thomas Lowson
-
0
‘Crushed It’ – Triple H Praises Mark Nash After WWE Ring Announcer Debut

On the March 28, edition of WWE SmackDown, Mark Nash made his debut as the brand’s new ring announcer, replacing Lilian Garcia in the role. Nash had his work cut out, as he announced for several top names including Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and the OTC Roman Reigns. Taking to X after the show, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque had praise for the new announcer.

Nash, real name Mark Shunock, made a name for himself before WWE as the host and announcer for Top Rank Boxing on ESPN. He has also served as the in-arena host of the Vegas Golden Knights and the Las Vegas Raiders, proving his talents can’t be contained to just one sport.

While Garcia will no longer be announcing on SmackDown, fans haven’t seen the last of her in a WWE setting. It has been confirmed that Garcia will still have a role at WWE events, including ring announcing at the Saturday Night’s Main Event shows. Garcia’s presence at these shows will add to the nostalgic feel of the events which were brought back in late 2024.

Nash joins WWE during the Road to WrestleMania 41 meaning he’ll have his work cut out at this pivotal time of the year. It remains to be seen how Nash fares in his new role but his efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by WWE’s Chief Content Officer.

Randy Orton Sets Sight On Cody Rhodes & 15th WWE World Title Win

WWE Documentary Covering Infamous Event Reportedly Coming Soon

Thomas Lowson
-
0
WWE Documentary Covering Infamous Event Reportedly Coming Soon

WWE is preparing to reveal backstage details about one of its most infamous events. WrestleVotes reports that WWE will release a documentary on Peacock chronicling the story of WrestleMania 9. The documentary will be titled ‘Becoming a Spectacle’ and is set to be released within a manner of weeks.

WrestleMania 9

The 1993 event is a polarizing show, with the event often making ‘Worst WrestleMania’ lists shared by fans. Many take issue with the show’s main event that saw Yokozuna defeat Bret Hart to win the WWE Championship. After that match, Hulk Hogan appears and is immediately offered a title match by Yokozuna’s challenger Mr. Fuji. With the encouragment of Bret, Hogan accepts and wins the gold in seconds. The match is seen by many as Hogan forcing his way back to the top of WWE at the expense of the workhorse Hitman.

The show also saw The Undertaker extend his WrestleMania winning streak to 3-0 with a heavily-panned victory over Giant Gonzalez. Despite being promoted as a wild savage, Gonzalez quickly gives up trying to defeat The Undertaker and uses a bottle of ether on the Phenom. This gave The Undertaker his only disqualification victory on his iconic WrestleMania record.

While WrestleMania 9 may not be making many must-watch playlists, this behind-the-curtain look at the show promises to be an entertaining endeavor. With WrestleMania season truly underway, fans will soon get to learn much more about the 1993 spectacle.

WWE Hall of Fame: Hart Vs. Austin Is First ‘Immortal Moment’ Inductee

Mike Tyson Comments On Potential WWE Return

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0
Mike Tyson Comments On Potential WWE Return

Mike Tyson has reacted to the idea of a potential WWE return.

The legendary boxer recently had an interview with Bleacher Report to promote his new skincare line with Dr. Squatch. During the interview, he talked about things such as his match with Jake Paul, the current state of the boxing world and more.

When asked about potentially returning to the ring again after the Jake Paul fight, Tyson said that right now he’s having fun enjoying the money he made from the match that broke all box office records:

“Everything is possible, but I’m having a good time right now just chilling. I’m just having fun boxing with my accountant now, the fact is, hey, if somebody breaks my record, I might come back.”

When the idea of a potential WWE return was brought up, the 58-year-old said, “Oh God, I would love to do that, that’s me at my childhood best, I had a great time.” Mike Tyson was also asked if there is any talent in particular, he’d like to get in the ring with, and the boxing veteran claimed that he can take on ‘all of them’ in one big battle royal.

The New York native has worked with WWE on many occasions. Apart from his famous WrestleMania 14 appearance, he was also inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012 and was part of the WWE ‘13 video game.

He also had a short run with All Elite Wrestling in 2021, so the possibility of him returning to Tony Khan’s promotion instead of WWE is also real.

Spoiler: Top NXT Star To Challenge For TNA Title At Rebellion PPV

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0
Spoiler: Top NXT Star To Challenge For TNA Title At Rebellion PPV

A top NXT star is set to challenge the TNA World Heavyweight Champion Joe Hendry at next PPV of the company.

The NXT Roadblock event earlier this month featured multiple TNA stars in title matches. This included current X-Division Champion Moose challenging Oba Femi for the NXT title.

The latest TNA TV tapings from St. Joseph, Missouri saw WWE’s development brand returning the favor by sending one of their top stars in Ethan Page.

Page ended up getting involved with the TNA Champion Joe Hendry. Their confrontation led to the announcement of a triple threat world title match for the upcoming TNA Rebellion PPV featuring Page, Hendry, and Frankie Kazarian.

Ethan Page had a run with TNA from 2017 to 2021 before he joined AEW. Originally introduced as Chandler Park, the cousin of Joseph Park aka Abyss, the 35-year-old later turned to his Ethan Page persona in the company.

The current NXT star got to share the ring with the likes of RVD, Sabu and Tommy Dreamer during his time with TNA. He also formed a successful tag team with Josh Alexander. Collectively known as The North, the duo had multiple runs with the Impact tag titles.

TNA Rebellion PPV is set to take place from the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California. The Hardy Boyz are set to defend the TNA tag titles against the Nemeth Brothers at the April 27 event. An Ultimate X-Match has also been announced for the PPV with Moose putting his X Division title on the line.

Rey Fenix’s WWE Debut Date Confirmed

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Rey Fenix’s WWE debut date is set.

The company has been teasing the arrival of the high-flying star in recent weeks with vignettes showing a masked star running the ropes on SmackDown.

A lot of fans have been wondering if officials will save Fenix’s debut for the shows after WrestleMania 41 but it appears that we will not have to wait that long.

The company announced on this week’s episode of the Blue Branded Show that the former Lucha Underground star will be making his debut on next week’s SmackDown on April 4. The episode emanating from the Allstate Arena in Chicago will see the show returning to America after their European tour:

rey fenix debut

Rey Fenix ended his 6 years run with All Elite Wrestling earlier this year. He won many titles during his time with the promotion, including multiple tag title reigns and a run with the International title.

Penta already made his debut for the company in January after getting out of his deal early. Reports initially suggested that the two brothers were looking to work together and they would be reunited once Rey got his release from AEW.

With Penta becoming a singles sensation on Raw, however, it appears that WWE is in no hurry to reform this tag team. As Fenix is set to join the SmackDown roster instead, it could be a while before the two interact on screen again.

Janel Grant files to move discovery forward in federal case against WWE, Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis

BJ Bethel
-
0
Janel Grant files to move discovery forward in federal case against WWE, Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis

Attorneys for former World Wrestling Entertainment employee Janel Grant filed a motion for “a Rule 26(f) conference” on Friday in Federal district court in Connecticut. A Rule 26(f) conference occurs when counsel for the plaintiffs and defendants meet to plan discovery ahead of a federal civil trial.

The filing noted Grant’s attorneys discussed the possibility of a settlement.

“Plaintiff’s counsel, after consultation with their client, certify that (a) they have discussed the nature and basis of her claims and possibility for achieving a prompt settlement or other resolution of the case,” the filing said.

The motion outlined proposed schedules for when expert witnesses would be finalized, and set proposed dates for discovery timelines and other trial matters from now through the end of the year.

Notes from the filing included:

  • Grant’s team says it plans on depositions of 45 material witnesses.
  • Discovery won’t be in layers and would begin after Dec. 1, 2025.
  • Expert witnesses would be named by Oct. 1, 2025 with depositions completed by Nov. 1, 2025.
  • If no dispositive motions are filed, a joint trial memorandum filed by Jan. 16, 2026, with the trial beginnig sometime within 30 days.

Several issues remain in front of the court ahead of discovery – Grant is awaiting a decision by Judge Sarah F. Russell on allowing her amended complaint, which was filed in January. Attorneys for McMahon, Laurinaitis and WWE filed a motion in opposition of the complaint in February.

“As such, given Defendants’ position that a Rule 26(f) conference and report are premature and Plaintiff’s position to the contrary, Plaintiff presents to the Court that the parties are at an impasse and submits the following for the Court’s consideration as her proposed schedule.”

  • If no dispositive motions are filed, a joint trial memorandum filed by Jan. 16, 2026, with the trial beginnig sometime within 30 days.
  • Four exhibits were included with the filing, all four were communications between Grant’s legal teams and counsel for the defendants.

Several issues remain in front of the court ahead of discovery – Grant is awaiting a decision by Judge Sarah F. Russell on allowing her amended complaint, which was filed in January. Attorneys for McMahon, Laurinaitis and WWE filed a motion in opposition of the complaint in February.

It’s highly unlikely WWE would agree the conference until the court has ruled on the arbitration motions the three defendants are expected to file.

Grant filed a civil suit against the three defendants in January 2024 alleging she was trafficked sexually and assaulted by McMahon and Laurinaitis. She filed an amended complaint in January 2025 including more text message and alleging McMahon was viewing texts from Grant while he was being filmed by a crew from the Mr. McMahon Netflix documentary. The texts allegedly made it on air.

The amended complaint named several unnamed individuals in the original complaint, including WWE wrestler and former UFC fighter Brock Lesnar, as well as several other WWE executives and managers. The complaint also included alleged text messages and photos allegedly from McMahon including other information., such an office that was allegedly planned for construction that would allow Laurinaitis a secret door entry into Grant’s office.

According to the motion, attorneys for Grant, McMahon, Laurinaitis and WWE met during a teleconference on Friday before the filing was made in Connecticut district court. Attorneys for the defendants declined to discuss the conference request.

Grant’s team responded by submitting a proposed timeline to move the case forward.

SEScoops reached out to McMahon’s legal team for a statement on Grant’s proposed timeline and conference. SEScoops made the inquiry shortly before the publication of this article. If McMahon’s team responds, the article will be updated to include their statement.

It’s expected the defendants will await Judge Russell’s decision on allowing the amended complaint to stand and re-file motions for arbitration. McMahon, WWE and Lauriniatis have argued that Grant’s NDA requires her to negotiate her complaints through an arbitration process lined out in the non-disclosure agreement she signed when leaving WWE. Grant and McMahon have argued the other broke the NDA first. Recent federal legislation has banned using NDAs and arbitration in events involving sex crimes or sexual harassment.

Grant rep Kendra Barkoff Lamy of SKDKnickerbocker provided a statement to SEScoops:

“Janel’s Grant courage continues to be an inspiration to so many,” Barkoff Lamy said. “Her filing today seeks to move forward with her purusit of justice and accountability against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE for the horrific sex trafficking and abuse inflicted upon her.”

Grant also filed a motion of discovery complaint against McMahon’s doctor, Dr. Carlon Colker, and his company Peak Wellness. The complaint alleged Peak Wellness failed to handover Grant’s medical records when asked last spring on two occasions. Grant’s team said the discocvery was needed to see if any potential RICO violations occurred.

McMahon, TKO, WWE and Linda McMahon are being sued in Maryland Superior Court by several alleged survivors of the 80s WWF ringboy scandal. A recent ruling by the Maryland Supreme Court said legislation that eliminated the statute of limitations in negligence filings in sex assault cases will allow the suit to move forward. Attorneys for the defendants have requested the case be moved to federal court for jurisdictional reasons.

The Rock Misses UFL Appearance After Plane Malfunction In Air

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0
The Rock Misses UFL Appearance After Plane Malfunction In Air

The Rock is safe after an airplane malfunction.

The Great One was scheduled to make a UFL appearance in Texas tonight but he missed the show. In a new video on social media, The former world champion apologized to everyone who was expecting him in the venue. He revealed that his plane malfunctioned as he was flying from his home in Hawaii, and they had to turn back around:

“I’m so sorry I can’t be there with you guys. Last night we had some issues with the plane. About 35 to 40 minutes into the flight the pilot comes back to me. He gets down on one knee and he faces me face-to-face and it’s just me on the plane. Just me and the crew.

He says ‘Mr. Johnson I’m sorry to inform you but we cannot continue to fly over the ocean. We have a problem. We have to turn the plane around and we have to land back in Hawaii. You have my word, I will land you back safely on the island’ I so appreciate his demeanour, his name is Captain David I appreciate his demeanour in that moment. He explained to me what happened, and he said it was a hydraulics issue with overheating.”

One of Those Moments: The Rock

The Rock noted that it was one of those moments that made him realize what is truly important in life. So he is grateful that they were able to land safely:

“When you’re back there alone with just your drink and you’re thinking about this and you’re just, You got everything crossed hoping you make it back safely. You start to realize really quickly of the shit that’s really important in life.

Then you realize the shit that doesn’t matter that you’ve been thinking about and worrying about. Anyway I had one of those moments last night. Bottomline is I’m grateful to be back on ground. I’m grateful to be back home in Hawaii.”

The People’s Champion has not been seen on WWE programming since the Elimination Chamber PPV. So far he has not been announced for another appearance in the Road to WrestleMania.

1...474849...3,335Page 48 of 3,335